CCPD: grow house busted, man charged

October 3, 2012

Cape Coral police busted a reported marijuana grow house last week, seized marijuana "buds" and charged one person in connection to the operation.

Jose A. Ferrer-Elvira, 42, of 831 S.W. Fifth Terrace, was arrested and charged Sept. 25 with marijuana producing, marijuana possess with intent to sell manufacture or deliver, marijuana possess over 20 grams and marijuana possess not more than 20 grams, according to Lee County Jail records.

He was also charged with drug equipment possess and or use, four counts.

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Jose A. Ferrer-Elvira

As of Wednesday, Ferrer-Elvira had been released on $9,500 bond.

On Sept. 25, police executed a search warrant at 831 S.W. Fifth Terrace. According to a report, officers found the inside of the home "outfitted with a marijuana cultivation operation," including two bedrooms and the garage.

Fifty-nine gallon buckets, each containing a root system, were seized from one room, along with high-power light bulbs, hoods and electrical ballasts. The home also contained plant and soil nutrients commonly used for cultivation.

Officers located a box and plastic bag containing 54.2 grams of marijuana, while six one-gallon bags containing buds were found in the attic access.

The marijuana buds weighed an estimated 2.47 pounds total.

According to the report, a Lee County Electric Cooperative employee confirmed that electricity was being illegally diverted above the meter.